Not a great game but we did what we had to do. There was a point during the
game where it looked nailed on a nil-nil but Beckford was replaced by
Becchio and we looked a different team.
Southend had a couple of lively midfielders but overall they were the worst
team I have seen in L1 this season.
We started slowly but it didn't take us long to get on top. We created
several half-chances from crosses but our general play lacked tempo and
quality. Rarely did we get to the byline and cross to the far post. Most
crosses were from far too deep and their 7 foot keeper gobbled most of this
up.
2nd half was similar - lots of huff and puff but no great conviction going
forward and clear cut chances few and far between. We looked to go 3-5-2 but
the goal didn't look like coming.
The turning point came when the hapless Beckford was replaced by Becchio.
Ironic cheers aplenty. Becchio won his first header which then lead to
Gradel scuffing a shot into the bottom corner via a deflection. Wow! we
looked like a team again. Gradel continued where he left off against Yeovil
and covered every blade of grass on the pitch and fought for everything.
Playing with 11 men we started to rip Southend apart and it was no surprise
when Becchio nodded in the 2nd from Gradel's cross.
Pretty easy win in the end against a very, very poor team but it could quite
easily have been a 0-0 had we not had the impetus from Becchio.
Higgs 6 - Absolutely nowt to do
Bromby 5 - hoofed everything forward. Looks like a fat old washer woman.
Naylor 6 - won't have an easier game all season
Collins 7 - same as Naylor but gets an extra point as he actually controlled
the ball on his chest once and played it out to the midfield rather than
smash it down the park.
Hughes 6 - steady enough - can't cross with his left foot so any attacks
down our left lose momentum
Howson 7 - seemed to play a bit wider today and ran with the ball well.
Nearly a good player but something is missing.
Doyle 6 - Did what he had to do but Southend were quite lively in the
middle.
Kilkenny 5 - Looks overweight to me. Makes things tick with his short
passing but he can do much more and I think he's selling himself short.
Snodgrass 6 - Does some great things but then does some bad things. Always
looks shagged out but he is a quality player and needs to stay wide so we
can get quality balls in.
Beckford 3 - his level of performance has dropped alarmingly - needs to be
dropped as he is clearly out of sorts.
Gradel 8 - great energy and work rate. Good movement, decent touch and got a
goal. Sign him up! (oh we have)
Subs
-------
Johnson 6 - came on for Hughes and gave better balance on the left. Could
have been sent off for a wild lunge. Now misses 2 games for his 10th
booking.
Becchio 8 - shows what a bit of effort and aerial threat up front can do.
Should start with Gradel now and use Beckford as a sub.
Watt 5 - not on long enough to do owt.
Grayson 8 - had the balls to haul Beckford off and it paid off. Hope he
sticks Beckford on the bench now as the service to him has dried up and he
has very little to offer otherwise. We need grafters now.
Finally....the South Stand fans had a bit of a run in with Beckford as he
seemed to gesture to them after they thought he couldn't be arsed going for
a ball. They gave him a "not fit to wear the shirt" chant. All seemed very
odd watching and listening from the Kop.
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